Tailgate support assembly with push-button release

ABSTRACT

A seating apparatus is provided including a seating member and a support mechanism. The seating member is pivotable between a first seating position and a second seating position. The support mechanism is attached to the seating member. The support mechanism is operable between a retracted position and an extended position. The support mechanism is adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle to support the seating member in the second seating position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a seat support mechanism and, moreparticularly, a seat support mechanism adapted for use with a rear orthird row seat that is pivotable between a forward facing position and arearward facing position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Minivan and sport utility markets are extremely competitive. A growingfocus of the competition is the overall utility and comfort of thesevehicles. One important utility feature that is gaining much attentionincludes flexible vehicle interiors and, more particularly, flexiblerear or third row seating assemblies. Flexibility, in this sense, refersto the ability to modify the configuration of a particular seatingassembly. For example, when attending an outdoor function, a consumermay desire to utilize the cargo compartment of the vehicle as a seatingarea. This would allow the consumer to sit within the vehicle whilemaintaining a direct line of sight with, and being able to hear,individuals outside of the vehicle. Thus, automobile manufacturers havedeveloped a rear or third-row seat that is pivotable about the vehiclebody from a forward seating position to a rearward seating position. Aproblem that exists, however, is that the cargo space of the vehicle istypically not configured to support the vehicle seat in this rearseating position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A seating apparatus is provided including a seating member and a supportmechanism. The seating member is pivotable between a first seatingposition and a second seating position. The support mechanism isattached to the seating member. The support mechanism is operablebetween a stored position and a supporting position. The supportmechanism is adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle to support theseating member in the second seating position.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle seatingapparatus including a seat and a support mechanism. The seat includes afirst seating member and a second seating member. The seat is pivotablebetween a first seating position and a second seating position. Thesupport mechanism is attached to the second seating member and isoperable between a stored position and a supporting position. Thesupport mechanism is adapted to engage a portion of a vehicle to supportthe seat in the second seating position.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seating apparatus in accordance withthe principles of the present invention in a forward seating position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seating apparatus of FIG. 1 having apair of support mechanisms in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the seating apparatus of FIG. 2 in arearward seating position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the pair of support mechanisms ofFIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the support mechanism of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the support mechanism takenthrough line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the support mechanism of FIG. 4in a retracted position;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the support mechanism of FIG. 4in an extended position;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are partially hidden detail side views of the supportmechanism of FIG. 4 in the retracted position; and

FIG. 10 is a partially hidden detail side view of the support mechanismof FIG. 4 in an extended position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

FIGS. 1-3 depict a seating apparatus 10 having a pair of supportmechanisms 12. The seating apparatus 10 is pivotable between a forwardseating position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a rearward seatingposition, shown in FIG. 3. The support mechanisms 12 are attached to atop portion of the seating apparatus 10 and are operable between aretracted position, shown in FIG. 1, and an extended position, shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The support mechanisms 12 are adapted to engage a portionof a vehicle body 14, such as a rear door sill, thereby supporting theseating apparatus 10 in its rearward seating position.

The seating apparatus 10 generally includes a seat bottom 16, a seatback18, a headrest 20, and a pivot mechanism 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,the seat bottom 16 is generally horizontal and the seatback 18 isgenerally upright when the seating apparatus 10 is in its forwardseating position. Alternatively, the seat bottom 16 is generally uprightand the seatback 18 is generally horizontal when the seating apparatus10 is in its rearward seating position.

FIGS. 4-10 depict the support mechanism 12 including a housing sleeve24, a cap 26, a locking mechanism 28, and a support arm subassembly 30.The housing sleeve 24 and cap 26 contain the locking mechanism 28 andthe support arm subassembly 30.

The housing sleeve 24 generally includes an elongated tubular memberhaving an external surface 32, an internal surface 34, a containing end36, and a receiving end 38. A plurality of attachment flanges 40 appendfrom the external surface 32 of the housing sleeve 24. The attachmentflanges 40 are adapted to receive fasteners (not shown), such as screws,to fasten the support mechanism 12 to the seating apparatus 10. Theinternal surface 34 of the housing sleeve 24 defines an internalabutment collar 42 and a plurality of internal guide rails 44, as bestseen in FIG. 6. The internal abutment collar 42 extends radially inwardfrom the internal surface 34 and is disposed proximate to the receivingend 38 of the housing sleeve 24. The internal guide rails 44 also extendradially inward from the internal surface 34 of the housing sleeve 24.The internal guide rails 44 each include an abutment end 46, a chamferedend 48, a locking edge 50, and a guide edge 52. The abutment ends 46 ofthe internal guide rails 44 are disposed adjacent to the internalabutment collar 42. The chamfered ends 48 of the internal guide rails 44extend at an angle of approximately 45 degrees between the locking edge50 and guide edge 52. The internal guide rails 44 define a plurality ofblind guide slots 54 therebetween. The cap 26 includes a cylindricalbody defining a blind bore 56, which is best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and8. The blind bore 56 receives the containing end 36 of the housingsleeve 24. The cap 26 is fixed to the external surface 32 of the housingsleeve 24 via an adhesive, a set screw, by interference fit, or anyother suitable means.

The locking mechanism 28 includes a nut 58 and a biasing member 60. Thenut 58 generally includes a cylindrical body defining a plurality oflocking arms 62 and a blind bore 64. As best illustrated in FIG. 9B, thelocking arms 62 include first and second longitudinal guide edges 66, 68and a working edge 70. The working edge 70 includes a lockinglongitudinal edge 72, an inclined locking surface 74, and an inclinedunlocking surface 76. The inclined locking surface 74 and inclinedunlocking surface 76 are generally parallel to each other and extend atan angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the lockinglongitudinal edge 72. The locking arms 62 each have asemi-circumferential dimension that is slightly less than asemi-circumferential dimension of the blind guide slots 54 definedbetween the internal guide rails 44 of the housing sleeve 24. Thisenables the locking arms 62 to freely slide within the blind guide slots54 upon extension and retraction of the support mechanism 12, as will bediscussed in more detail below. The biasing member 60 includes a firstend 78 and a second end 80. The first end 78 is disposed within theblind bore 64 of the cylindrical body of the nut 58. The second end 80is disposed within the blind bore 56 of the cylindrical body of the cap26. The biasing member 60 biases the nut 58 away from the cap 26. In anexemplary embodiment, the biasing member 60 includes a coil spring.

The support arm subassembly 30 is disposed within the housing sleeve 24and includes a support arm 82 and a support arm sleeve 84. The supportarm 82 is a generally elongated cylindrical member constructed of arigid material such as steel. The support arm sleeve 84 is a generallytubular member receiving the support arm 82. The support arm sleeve 84includes an external surface 86, an open end 88, and a closed end 90.The open end 88 includes a saw-toothed circumferential edge 92. Thesaw-toothed circumferential edge 92 includes a plurality of teeth 94. Asbest illustrated in FIG. 9B, the teeth 94 each include a primary edge 96and secondary edge 98 intersecting through an apex 100 at an angle ofapproximately 90 degrees.

The external surface 86 of the support arm sleeve 84 defines a pluralityof guide pads 102. The plurality of guide pads 102 extend radiallyoutward from the external surface 86 of the support arm sleeve 84. Theplurality of guide pads 102 each have a semi-circumferential dimensionthat is slightly smaller than the semi-circumferential dimensions of theblind guide slots 54 disposed between the internal guide rails 44 of thehousing sleeve 24. This allows the guide pads 102 to freely slide withinthe blind guide slides 54 during actuation of the support mechanism 12.The plurality of guide pads 102 are disposed within the blind guideslots 54 to maintain the rotational disposition of the support armsubassembly 30 relative to the housing sleeve 24.

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict the support mechanism 12 in the retractedposition. The plurality of internal guide rails 44 on the internalsurface 34 of the housing sleeve 24 lockingly engage the working edge 70of the locking arms 62 of the nut 58. The chamfered ends 48 of each ofthe internal guide rails 44 engage the inclined locking surfaces 74 ofthe locking arms 62 of the nut 58. The locking edges 50 of the pluralityof guide rails 44 engage the locking longitudinal edges 72 of theworking edges 70 of the locking arms 62 of the nut 58. This lockingengagement maintains the rotational, as well as the axial disposition,of the locking mechanism 28, support arm subassembly 30, and housingsleeve 24 in this retracted position.

FIG. 10 depicts the support mechanism 12 in the extended position. Theguide pads 102 on the support arm sleeve 84 axially engage the abutmentcollar 42 on the internal surface 34 of the housing sleeve 24. Thelocking arms 62 of the nut 58 are disposed within the guide slots 54located between the internal guide rails 44 on the internal surface 34of the housing sleeve 24. The biasing member 60 biases the nut 58 andsupport arm subassembly 30 toward the receiving end 38 of the housingsleeve 24 to maintain this extended position.

The following steps provide the transition between the above-describedretracted and extended positions. With the support mechanism 12 in theretracted position, as illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a downward axialforce is applied to the closed end 90 of the support arm subassembly 30.This force axially displaces the support arm subassembly 30 such thatthe teeth 94 on the open end 88 of the support arm sleeve 84 engage theworking edges 70 of the locking arms 62 of the nut 58. Moreparticularly, the teeth 94 engage the working edges 70 such that theirapexes 100 initially contact the inclined locking and unlocking surfaces74, 76 of the working edge 70 of the locking arms 62 of the nut 58.Subsequently, the primary edges 96 of the teeth 94 slidably engage therespective inclined locking and unlocking surfaces 74, 76. This causesthe nut 58 to rotate relative to the support arm subassembly 30 in aclockwise direction, as viewed from the cap 26 of the support mechanism12 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Once this initial rotation is achieved, the force applied to the closedend 90 of the support arm subassembly 30 can be released. This enablesthe biasing member 60 to axially displace the nut 58 in the upward axialdirection toward the support arm subassembly 30. Upon such axialdisplacement, the inclined unlocking surface 74 of the working edge 70of the locking arm 62 of the nut 58 slidably engages the chamfered ends48 of the internal guide rails 44 of the housing sleeve 24. This furthercauses the nut 58 to rotate in the clockwise direction, as viewed fromthe cap 26. This further rotation continues until the secondlongitudinal edge 68 of the locking arms 62 of the nut 58 passes theguide edge 52 of the guide rails 44 of the housing sleeve 24. At thispoint, the locking arms 62 of the nut 58 are substantially axiallyaligned with the plurality of blind guide slots 54 in the housing sleeve24 disposed between the internal guide rails 44. The biasing member 60is then enabled to fully extend and axially displace the nut 58 andsupport arm subassembly 30 to the extended position shown in FIG. 10. Itshould be appreciated that while the support arm subassembly 30 andlocking mechanism 28 have been disclosed herein as including a nut 58having locking arms 62 with working edges 70 adapted to slidably engageand interlock with a plurality of internal guide rails 44 havingchamfered ends 48, it is envisioned that any type of manually orautomatically actuable device capable of serving the principles of thepresent invention is intended to be included within the scope of theinvention.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1-2. (canceled)
 3. The seating apparatus of claim 20 wherein saidsupport mechanism includes a support arm at least partially disposed ina housing.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The seating apparatus of claim 4 furthercomprising a biasing member biasing said support mechanism into saidextended position and a locking mechanism for locking said supportmechanism in said retracted position.
 6. The seating apparatus of claim5 wherein said locking mechanism selectively engages a locking surfaceof said housing.
 7. The seating apparatus of claim 5 wherein saidlocking mechanism is disposed between said support arm and said biasingmember. 8-9. (canceled)
 10. The seating apparatus of claim 21 whereinsaid support mechanism includes a support arm at least partiallydisposed in a housing.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The seating apparatus of claim11 further comprising a biasing member biasing said support mechanisminto said extended position and a locking mechanism for locking saidsupporting mechanism in said retracted position.
 13. The seatingapparatus of claim 12 wherein said locking mechanism selectively engagesa locking surface of said housing.
 14. The seating apparatus of claim 13wherein said locking mechanism is disposed between said support arm andsaid biasing member. 15.-16. (canceled)
 17. The seating apparatus ofclaim 20 wherein said first seating member and said second seatingmember are rotated approximately ninety degrees from said first seatingposition to said second seating position.
 18. (canceled)
 19. The seatingapparatus of claim 21 wherein said first seating member and said secondseating member are rotated approximately ninety degrees from said firstseating position to said second seating position.
 20. A seatingapparatus comprising: a first seating member operating as a seatback ina first seating position and operating as a seat bottom in a secondseating position; a second seating member operating as a seat bottom insaid first seating position and operating as a seatback in said secondseating position, said second seating member pivoting with said firstseating member about a fixed pivot between said first seating positionand said second seating position; and a support mechanism selectivelyextending from an end of said first seating member opposite said fixedpivot to support said first seating member in said second seatingposition.
 21. A seating apparatus comprising: a first seating member anda second seating member pivotal together about a fixed pivot between afirst seating position and a second seating position and a supportmechanism selectively extendable from an end of one of said firstseating member and said second seating member opposite said fixed pivotto retain the seating apparatus in one of said first seating positionand said second seating position.
 22. The seating apparatus of claim 3wherein said support arm extends from said housing to an extendedposition to support said first seating member in said second seatingposition and retracts generally within said housing to a retractedposition when said first seating member is in said first seatingposition.
 23. The seating apparatus of claim 10 wherein said support armextends from said housing to an extended position to support said one ofsaid first seating member and second seating member in said one of saidfirst seating position and said second seating position and retractsgenerally within said housing to a retracted position when said one ofsaid first seating member and said second seating member is in the otherof said first seating position and said second seating position.